IpohBanana

Some people are of the opinion that she's as you put it something waiting to explode, barking dogs don't bite and biting dogs don't bark.... it's clear from her facial expressions that she's not happy about things though initially I think she tried to be politically correct and tell off her maid that 'this is their fate', it's not to be compared with others. But I think there will be a trigger which will push her to do something untowards later but what it is, left to be seen. @SheepMoon Glad you are finally able to post images. It took me ages as well before I could figure out how to do it, someone told me how too! If you look at the image posted by @Lynne here, his inner wear is of a light tone, and her garment is more pink (in their engagement event). So the pix that you posted is most likely from their wedding!!!

https://gifyu.com/ I use this site. I upload, then I go to embed codes and copy the last/fourth row of codes, then paste. There may be other methods .... @abs-oluteM yes that really legendary kiss between Wu Lei and Reba that riled so many people up. Btw, the link doesn't seem to work for me. I wonder till today when I rewatch it what the real reason was for diluting the impact of that kiss. I refuse to believe that it's on her account, after all she's had far hotter kisses with Yang Yang. Was Wu Lei underaged then? @OsmanthusTea you prolly haven't watched Pillow Book with Reba or the related series (Eternal Love)? Though it's a different genre but the way Reba's character was forever returning debt and feeling grateful was over the tops, perpetually indebted to Di Jun. LOL Then again, it was prolly her conscious mind finding an excuse to do what her sub-conscious mind wanted her to do. @mademoiselle oh...so no duet? pity, that would have been quite a scene. Ok, if it's not too much trouble, thanks for seeing if you can dig up what battle he is charging into next. Ah....all the bad people have their comeuppance, including the high and mighty 5th princess? Good then! To be honest, I'd rather all that misery wait till episode 53-54? Though if 5 years flashes by, then we have at least 3 episodes of him courting and marrying her, which would be not too bad, nothing too rushed mind yah. Particularly I'd like to see a nice, grand wedding and a bit of what's next after that. @Mouse eating lunch while watching? Hey, I do that pretty often as well ... though I laugh when I think about how you have to stop eating because of all that's going on in front of your eyes! I wonder from the facial expressions on LZS's face when CSS kept trying to 'promote' the Crown Prince and his 'thoughtful behaviour' in court during the birthday banquet, whether he was annoyed or bursting with pride that she can find such ingenious ways to make him (CP) look good. The CP brought back a seed which would have done totally nothing if CSS hadn't grown it - seriously, what good is the darn seed? And if she hadn't used the walnut oil or whatever oil it was, would anyone have benefitted from it? Geez, it's no wonder marketing works - as long as one has a way with words and the other party wants to believe it, something can be made to sound like a great big deal! I know there's some criticism aimed at Wu Lei about him not being completely immersed into his character ... and at times I can't help but agree, I think it's probably age-related. Give or take a few more years and he should be able to overcome that. But there's one scene where I felt that Wu Lei did an incredible job. It was in E36 where the distinction between Zi Sheng the general and Zi Sheng the fiancé was accurately projected, and that was when he was going on and on about how he's the subject of envy in court... and she starts to cry and he drops all that facade and reaches out to ask her what's going on. That was superbly done! [I reckon he was truly shocked, she's never acted that vulnerable before, though I have no idea why she thought getting hugged to the point of not being able to breath was a good idea . I have a bone to pick with the scriptwriter though, considering how smart LZS is, he ought to have figured out when CSS asked him how to defend herself in case she's bullied, that something of that sort must have happened to her. me grumbling to myself.] Btw, can someone explain the significance of one hand and no hands when they were creating all that tension on the bed? or @mademoiselle what was the context from the book?

@mademoiselle wow...the back story of Zi Sheng and LBY explains it; I was puzzled as to where the real son had gone to but now it makes sense. I still don't quite get why Ling Yi killed General Huo. So after watching tonight's episodes - there was no duet by our love-birds. Obviously no spies, and thus she didn't give him the cold shoulder. They didn't kiss in full sight, she gave him a peck on the cheek but even that in full view of the court is quite scandulous and prolly someone can argue that it's indecent behaviour. Though the captain of their ship would forgive them. And why did she walk out of the room - to get fresh air because she was slightly tipsy or because she was embarassed? (I thought that part was weird.) And I can't believe they ended with that silly accusation...sigh...five more days again till next episode. I am wondering if Lady Luo will remain neutral or become more hateful... Btw, looking at the previews, @mademoiselle how much more do you reckon before the big massacre? And what battle/war does Zi Sheng ride off to in the latest preview, any insights?

@Lynne me too. I thought the colour of their garments were pleasing to the eye. The arrival of the emperor and the concubine was in perfect timing! And that our dear CSS' tongue received a compliment from the Concubine, I would say birds of a feather, the two of them! lol @SheepMoon I've done the same. Anytime I see gibberish, I figure it's either 4 characters or 8 and they are a proverb of sorts; so I copy the chinese characters and paste into Baidu search to figure out what the phrase means. It takes a lot of painstaking effort. More so as sometime google translates people's names as well. Oh, that part is a b****, because the entire sentence becomes meaningless. @mademoiselle thank you so very much for ur detailed explanation. I've seen the preview of the upcoming scenes with the poop on 5th princess' face and I would say the drama seems to be following the novel in that part. [I was wondering why he got mad at her again, so it's because he didn't know she fell into the water? His network of information isn't that good after all for such a big incident.] Also LBY playing the guzheng was in a preview, not sure if he will storm off, but yah we'll get to see a duet? These two have I reckon one of the most fight-make up scenes in a drama that I've ever watched. On one hand, it's surreal, theirs is such a high profile relationship and on the other, the issues they face as a couple make it seem so down-to-earth. Those of us who are married can probably attest to the fact that even after many years of marriage, couples will experience such conflict, ain't all that uncommon. By the way, a question for you --> what happened to the actual son of the Marquis Ling? Imho, CSS breaking off the engagement with him has it's silver lining. Five years for her to adapt to court politics and catch up on whatever education she's lacking plus increase her maturity to be able to deal with him as an equal, seems like a logical move; though that wasn't her intention but the unintended outcome seems like a beneficial one. I also believe based on the Emperor's personality that after he gets over his fit of rage, he will give in to LBY, he has a soft spot for him and it will be hard to change overnight. More so as he is the son of the General whom he feels greatly indebted to. A conversation btwn a Boss and an employee Employee: Boss, I can't focus on two tasks at any time, which is your priority Task A or Task B? Boss: I don't care, you have to manage both, as both are equally important. A conversation btwn LBY and CSS CSS: I can't focus on two tasks at any time, which is your priority - the Empress or you, you pick one? LBY: Then I'd rather you focus on me!

@mademoiselle

I had a feeling that was the case (because of the way the Emperor said that her actions had consequences and I thought initially this was the scene where he LBY had massacred a family, but now it looks like that isn't the case, so I doubt the Emperor would bear to hit him like this). But then again, I had been making predictions about another drama with ZLS and YY and they didn't quite come true; I reckon I got ahead of myself, LOL, so I didn't quite dare to be too presumptious with this drama. @NiteWalker I get bloated eating capsicum, so it doesn't work for me. @mademoiselle that being the case is the aunt really, really

@NiteWalker i was about to say that I do that pretty often too, boil vege and throw in some protein. When I am lazy I don't bother to put any sauce...if it's fresh it tastes alright. And it trains our palate to be able to savour the actual taste of the food minus whatever sauces we add to spice it up. But I don't prefer chicken breast, a bit too dry unless it's done absolutely right. I think the daughter (the one without much intelligence) has got on all the right expressions...kudos to her for being such an inane bimbo.

@abs-oluteM @mademoiselle wah the women are really, really crazy...including Concubine Yue. But I like her craziness, I knew she had a sharp tongue and she really has no filter (LOL) from the way she spoke to her daughter from before (but tonight when she spoke to her daughter, it was off the charts - I gave all the intelligence to your sister!). She's honest to the point of being really blunt and she has that I-don't-care-what-you-think-of-me look when she says what she says. I think that last scene in E30 was amazing, she must have scared CSS a little with her behaviour but I think she will definitely have made a positive impression on her for standing up for the both of them like that. As for that scene about why LBY said he would take back his heart if CSS didn't give hers to him, I don't totally get it either. Did they cut something out before that which is why we can't put two and two together? I am just guessing that she may have told him that she doesn't need him to protect her (because he asked her why she thinks she doesn't require his protection) and that scene may have been edited out....Also in that last scene at the entrance to her house, he was trying to tell her that she has to learn to trust him and thus, give her heart totally to him (I am guessing again). Ah....E30 was the scene where he lifts her up and sits her on the balustrade....I love the tone of voice when he asked her "who hurt you".... ooh... so swoony. I am gonna have that on repeat while waiting till next Tuesday (my gawd, five more days of waiting???)

@abs-oluteM @mademoiselle and the rest of you who will eventually catch up with E28, This show is filled with scary women, from drama queens, to those with sharp tongues to power-hungry women. Wah...really, really scary. I think the women in this show are scarier than the men. If you think about it, even the Emperor's concubine can poke fun at him (though we know that she is the one who really yields the power, if she wanted to, but so far she's made no show of doing so and has only said that she wants to lead her life free from trouble). I giggled at how she literally shoved him out of her tent and tonight she told him to quit worrying and pacing in front of her bed, so she could go back to sleep. This is really the first Emperor I've watched who is loads more worried about someone else's son, more than his own children.

@abs-oluteM they are not gonna bother with the subterfuge. They just continued with the numbering of the episodes. and trailers are out till E34. It is STILL

wei wei, I can see E28 trailer on WeTV!!!! means what - is Part 2 gonna continue airing on Tuesday too? I saw the trailer, and I am in love with our dear General. He is so darn sweet and he knows what she is thinking...oh I've never been more moved by a piece of flat bread. I swear I am gonna watch that trailer a gazillion more times. (the BGM for that scene came in just at the right moment and the piece of music they chose was spot on in conveying the mood... kudos to the editing team) @abs-oluteM have you seen the trailer? omo, his voice and intonation... my heart just melted while listening to him speak. [Though I've been married for 20+ years, I am still gonna ask this question, where can I find a man like this? ]

@Tofu talk about dropping a bombshell. no hint, just premiered a few hours before hand...Youku is erh (i am speechless)! Btw, I am not gonna watch till at least half or the entire part 1 is out. I swear to the heavens above.

@40somethingahjumma @mademoiselle geo-blocked. sigh, I can't see the videos you've posted. Any news about when part 2 will officially air? or are they still busy scrubbing out all the ribbons?

sorry folks, I've just got to get this off my chest... the OCD in me is deeply concerned with how dirty their clothes are getting from being dragged all over the place, It's from 1:10 of this video was the costume designer so besotted by the trains in wedding gowns or Western medieval gowns? You can see a few samples here of the train-like gowns they don.. on Old Madam Chen (and clearly the dirt-stains) Chen Yang (such a light coloured cloth) even on the Eunuchs.. how much washing did they have to do???

@Tofu the Emperor is so handsome !!!! sorry, I know that's not the point. Ooh, I've had that feeling before from kneeling down and getting numb in my legs. Makes me wonder how people managed those days and I can understand now why dramas depict Koreans (women particularly) sitting with one foot on the floor, in a bent position. @40somethingahjumma lately, I've watched Emperors who don't behave like typical Emperors, this is one, the other is the one that was in a Dream of Splendor. Looking at how he harps on marriage, I'd say he's more like the expectant father-in-law/father than the Emperor. He seems to have very few worries about the country's state of affirs, maybe because everything is being handled for him by LBY (tis like the CEO who has delegated everything to his C-suite). I've yet to see an Emperor who forbids a General from going off to battle again, lol. Thanks for the video, not quite parakeets kissing, and not quite setting me aflame. There's this one scene where she's staring at him,ooh... that look in her eyes, I swear I got taken in for a moment.

@abs-oluteM the post-editing team must be busy erasing all the silly ribbons from their costumes (me rolling my eyes). Else I can't believe they would be so lax and still be editing at this juncture. sigh. I hope this doesn't mean the normal one-week gap is gonna be prolonged.

wah @Mizv no wonder the story is entitled Love like a galaxy... their love for each other is as vast as a galaxy. hhmm

@movingwheel if you read my earlier post, I mentioned that this week would be sh*** because they only show it 3 days a week (Tues-Thur). They only aired Tuesday - Saturday for the very first week. So, it will be 3 days a week (2 eps per day for VIP), ending on 27 July, with Episode 27. What @Yana saw is for non-VIP, which means one episode per day. @abs-oluteM I honestly can't tell when it becomes a two-way affair. For now, even based on the trailers up to E24, it looks like LBY is the way expressing how he feels from his actions and words. She is still holding back.

@40somethingahjumma lol, I like the way you described it 'giving the middle finger'. Can't watch the video you posted, though, geographical ban. To me, I saw it as what CSS perceived to be an opportunity for independence and to free herself from the clasp of her family (mother). She thinks that she can finally be an adult and live her own life, based on her own ideals. For a female from that century, that's just being blindly optimistic, more so as her husband-to-be doesn't wield any political power and personality-wise is too meek. Marrying someone like him may seem ideal in the beginning (he's sweet, runs at her beck and call and panders to her fancies), but she will certainly find that the gap to be bridged between the two of them is just too big. He will end up being a carpet and she'll resent him for it. Well, the author and scriptwriter have certainly sharply contrasted LBY to LY to the point where it's glaringly obvious. One is a general who has seen through (probably) every kind of deception, vice and evil that mankind is capable of, while the other as you put it is 'wet behind the ears'. It's not an apple to apple comparison, their experiences have been vastly different. I've finally seen the trailer for E23-24 and @Tofu I don't think that scene is going to happen by E27. Unless the director and scriptwriter really speed things up in 3 episodes.

@Tofu the way I understand it... so with all that back story, I don't think it will happen in part 1. I suspect it will happen in part 2..but then again.... your guess is as good as mine. we'll see.

@Tofu and finally the trailer on E21-22 at least shows they are getting somewhere. @40somethingahjumma thanks for the tip of a full kiss, I don't think it would be anything sizzling though, would it? Judging by the disdain CSS has for LBY at E22, their relationship won't go into full bloom by E27, could it? if anyone has watched Good Luck to you Leo Grande, I feel like I am Emma Thompson, asking permission if she could touch Daryl McCormack's chest, when I saw the twitter that @Tofu posted with Wu Lei's chest.

@NiteWalker didn't know he is so active. I'm still drooling over the scene where he had the arrow removed, sorry I meant drooling over that upper torso not the arrow. lol @Tofu I watched a Youtube video narrating about the background story of the Empress and how CSS goes where you mentioned, so I know that's part of the story but whether the drama will closely follow the novel.. hhhmmmm.. dunno. There's also an interview with Wu Lei about his character and he actually explains that LBY is completely focused and hell-bent on revenge. Everything he has done has been carefully planned up till the climax where he does get what he's after, he can be totally brutal and cruel, and he can put his feelings aside, even if it involves pushing CSS away. Then again, every other drama does that, doesn't it - which is why noble idiocy was coined and used so often in dramas. Ditto...agree with @Tofu that his voice is really suitably expressed and as @40somethingahjumma said the look in his eyes..to die for! @movingwheel it's being critical for the sake of it, so they've got to find something wrong with it. Does anyone have any idea when part 2 will be out? I am seriously considering not watching after this week, till more of part 2 is out. I don't want to twiddle my fingers as I sit and wait.

@40somethingahjumma I agree, Wu Lei is nailing this character. Indeed, his voice acting is spot on, then again, he's been acting since he was a kid, so the years of acting and watching his seniors act must have helped him hone his craft, also read somewhere that he's been to an academy too. To be honest, I've seen the preview till E20, and I am getting edgy, partially because of the way the trailers are presented and partially because I am impatient, Btw, folks, I saw a BTS of ZLS on the horse, the scene where Wu Lei is trying to teach her horse-riding...and guess what??? Apparently all that screaming from her, as in the fear of being on the horse wasn't acting. She was really terrified because the horse went into a full gallop and she didn't realise that the cameras had started rolling (though Wu Lei knew which is why he got the horse into that kinda pace). The poor girl really had tears in her eyes and it was really funny because the director didn't know she wasn't acting, he told her she nailed it in one cut. My goodness, what a lark! Everytime I watch a comical scene, I imagine seeing the director telling a joke with a straight face. I swear he must be half British, with all that deadpan humour. I just watched the latest E13 And there's more laughter after that, the funny scenes come from the most unexpected places. I hope this continues throughout, so that the heart-wrenching scenes later are moderated by laughter, even till the very end. I've finished watching E14, I conclude that the laughter/joy isn't enough to compensate for the sadness /sorrow in between;

@Tofu Wu Lei topless and very, very close physical contact with ZLS... stay tuned, sizzling. lol @abs-oluteM she thinks she's disciplining a soldier and she's still in the army.

@Tofu heard this will air after the anime, which is coming out on 15 july...